Press Release

Source/Credit: CHRE (especial thanks to Mr. Nasim Malik) Naveed Raphael, Press Information Secretary, November 14, 2011

Human Rights Community Protests to condemn the killing of Hindus in Shikarpur and increased violence against religious minorities:

The human rights community staged a protest in front of Punjab Assembly under the auspices of Centre for Human Rights Education (CHRE) and Institute for Peace and Secular Studies on November 14^th, 2011 to condemn the brutal killing of Hindu Doctors in Shikarpur. The peaceful protesters chanted slogans against the barbaric act and demanded to ensure justice and the safety and security of all the citizens including the persons belonging to religious minorities.

Renowned human rights activists including I. A Rehman & Hussain Naqi (Director and National Coordinator of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan), Saeeda Diep (Chairpersons, Institute for Peace and Secular Studies), Samson Salamat (Director, Centre for Human Rights Education), Joseph Francis (National Coordinator, Class), A.K Lodhi (Media Consultant CHRE), Munawar Ali Shahid (Ambassador of Peace and Humanity-SPMUDA), Mohammed Shafiqe Dogar (President, Star Welfare Organization) and Romail Yousuf (Regional Coordinator, Justice and Peace Commission) were present at this occasion.

The participants of the protest said that “the killing of Hindus doctors is a disastrous moment, and is yet another proof of the failure of the government and the state machinery which is responsible for their safety and security.

The participants showed their deep concerns on the increase of religiously motivated violence and the persecution of Hindu Community and other religious minorities. Merely lip service by the government functionaries will have no impact in improving the conditions, therefore practical measures are required by all stakeholders to save the pluralistic recognition of the Pakistani society they further said.

The participants demanded that the justice must be ensured in the Shikarpur incident and an Independent Commission must be constituted immediately to assess,  investigate and improve the situation of the religious minorities to improve their.